Handheld remote control system with keyboard

ABSTRACT

A remote controller is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a monitor or TV as well as providing functions such as Internet access or other functions requiring a keyboard and/or a mouse. The remote controller includes a folding housing and maybe operated in a closed or opened configuration. A first limited set of control inputs are provided on the outer surface of the housing. The housing may be opened, thereby doubling the surface area of the remote controller, to expose a keyboard and mouse type multi-directional controller. First and second wireless transmitters are oriented at 90 degrees to each other and respectively controlled by the first set of control inputs and the keyboard and mouse. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user when in the folded or closed position and conveniently rested on the lap of the user or arm of a sofa when in the opened position and used as a keyboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to remote control systems for controllingentertainment systems, such as multimedia systems, Internet accesssystems and browsers, and related methods.

2. Description of the Prior Art and Related Information

Remote control systems are ubiquitous in entertainment systems andmultimedia systems of a wide variety, including TVs, game systems, VCRsand many other well-known entertainment devices. At the same time, theneed has arisen for providing computer related control capabilities inthe living room along with the control of the more conventionalentertainment devices typically present in the living room. For example,combined PC and TV systems have been introduced which integrate thecapabilities of the personal computer with the television. Also, set topInternet access devices have been introduced which integrate Internetaccess capabilities with conventional televisions. The ability toprovide full control of a PC or an Internet browser typically requiresthe use of a keyboard as well as a mouse. A conventional remote controlis therefore inadequate for control of such combined entertainmentsystems.

Wireless keyboards have been introduced to meet this need which allowthe user of a combined PC and TV system or a user of a TV Internetaccess device to control such systems more conveniently. Such wirelesskeyboards may often include an integrated mouse or other pointing deviceto provide full control of the PC or Internet functions. Also, wirelesskeyboards specifically designed for combined PC and TV or TV andInternet device control have been designed with function keys which maybe used for control of the TV to provide complete control in a singleremote device.

Although such wireless keyboard control devices can provide full controlcapabilities the wireless keyboards are typically similar in size to aconventional keyboard and are thus somewhat cumbersome for use in livingroom environment. To substantially reduce the size of the keyboardhowever, would result in the keys being too small for easy use,particularly in a dimly lit environment such as a living room. Also, themultiple functions provided by such a wireless keyboard adapted forcontrol of both a PC or Internet access device and a TV require a largerkeyboard layout. This relatively large size of a wireless keyboard alsomakes balancing the keyboard on the lap of the user somewhat difficult.Also, such wireless keyboards are somewhat obtrusive when not beingused, whether when the TV/PC is not being used or when a TV program orvideo is being viewed. For this reason, a user of such a combinedentertainment system incorporating a TV/PC or TV/Intemet device willwant to also have a hand held remote control to avoid having to use acumbersome wireless keyboard at all times. This approach is described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,675,390 which describes the use of two remote controls,one a hand-held remote control and the other a wireless keyboard tocontrol a PC/TV entertainment system. This of course does not solve theproblem of the obtrusive nature of the wireless keyboard in the livingroom during the times when it is not being used.

Accordingly, the addition of PC and/or Internet access capabilities tothe conventional TV based entertainment system has introduced theproblem of controlling such systems with a convenient yet full functionremote control system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a full function remote control system foran entertainment system which may include a TV and a PC or Internetaccess device. In addition, the present invention provides such a fullfunction remote control system which is not cumbersome nor intrusive onthe living room environment.

The present invention provides a remote control system configured in afolding housing which when in a closed position can be conveniently heldin one hand and operated in a similar manner to a conventional TV remotecontrol. That is, common functions such as channel up, channel down,volume up, volume down, power, and a 10 key input may be provided.Transmission of the control signals to the entertainment system may bevia a wireless RF or LED transmission as in a conventional remotecontrol. When additional functions are required to control a PC,Internet access device, or other device requiring keyboard input, thehousing may be opened and folded into a double width configurationexposing a keyboard and mouse type controller on the inner portion ofthe housing. In this configuration the remote control system operates asa wireless keyboard and may easily accommodate the necessary keys forsuch a keyboard. When the keyboard is activated a second LED transmitteror wireless RF transmitter can be used to transmit the keyboardinformation to the PC or Internet access device. Opening the housing toexpose the inner keyboard automatically disables the first wirelesstransmitter so that resting the remote control on the users lap or asupport surface will not inadvertently activate the remote controls onthe outer surface of the remote control housing.

To facilitate a compact configuration for the remote control, a doublesided circuit board may be employed having the remote control buttonsand circuitry for the remote control buttons configured on the outsideof the housing on one side of the circuit board and one-half of thekeyboard buttons on the inside of the housing on the other side of thecircuit board. Also, in one embodiment a multi-directional controllersuch as a trackball may be provided among the outside controls and alsoshared with the inside portion of the controls. Alternatively, twodifferent types of multi-directional controllers may be provided, one onthe inside of the housing and the other on the outside of the housing.For example, a force sensitive controller may be provided on the outsideof the housing and a trackball or glide pad controller provided on theinside of the housing.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will beappreciated by review of the following detailed description of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are top and respective side views of a preferredembodiment of the remote controller of the present invention with thehousing in a folded or dosed position.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are top in side views respectively of the remotecontroller of the present invention with the housing in an openconfiguration.

FIG. 3 is a block schematic growing illustrating control circuitry ofthe remote controller of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of one section of the housing of theremote controller showing a circuit board shared between first andsecond sets of remote control inputs.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are top views of the remote controller in a dosed andopened position, respectively, showing an alternate embodiment employinga glide pad multi-directional controller.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are two side and a top view respectively of analternate embodiment of the remote controller employing a slidingmulti-directional controller.

FIG. 7 is the top view of another alternate embodiment of the remotecontroller of the present invention in an opened configuration.

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of an improved entertainment system inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C the present invention is illustrated in top andrespective side views in a presently preferred embodiment. The presentinvention provides a remote control system adapted for use with anentertainment system requiring keyboard control as well as conventionalTV type controls. Such systems are known and will not be described indetail herein. For example, such a system is disclosed in the abovenoted '390 patent, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

The remote control system of the present invention is configured in ahousing 10 which is adapted to be opened and closed in a folding manner,preferably along one edge of the housing. FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C show thehousing in a dosed configuration whereas FIG. 2A shows the housing in anopen configuration. The housing has a generally rectangularconfiguration viewed from above with a length L and a width W. Thelength and width are preferably selected so as to allow the remotecontrol to be held comfortably in one hand when the housing is closed.Also, the dimensions are preferably selected to allow the provision of akeyboard when the housing is in the open configuration. Therefore, toprovide a convenient size to be hand-held while closed and provide akeyboard when opened, the dimensions of the housing are preferably about2.5 inches in width and about nine inches in length. This width isapproximately that commonly found in conventional remote controls andprovides a comfortable width while providing a 5 inch by a nine inchopen configuration which easily accommodates the major keys in a fullkeyboard layout. However, more generally, the width may be from abouttwo inches to about three inches also providing the necessary room for akeyboard in the open configuration while remaining comfortable for beingheld in one hand. The length in turn may range from about six inches toabout 10 inches.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the top surface of the housing 10 includes anumber of remote control inputs indicated generally at 12. This firstset of control inputs 12 may correspond to conventional remote controlfunctions typically found in hand-held TV remote controls or universalremote controls adapted to control multiple entertainment devices suchas TVs, VCRs, CD players, DVD players, etc. Therefore the first set ofremote control inputs include the volume up and down set of controls 14,a channel up and down set of controls 16, a power button 18 and a set ofnumeric inputs 20. Also, a number of programmable or special purposecontrol buttons may be provided these are indicated generally as buttons22. Optionally, a microphone 23 is provided which may provide atelephone or videophone functionality or which may be used for voicerecognition control of the system. A speaker 25 is also illustratedwhich may be employed for the above noted telephone or videophonefeatures of the remote controller. Also, a multi-directional controller24 is preferably provided. The multi-directional controller 24 isillustrated as a top, down, left, right type controller typically foundcontrolling menu type functions, for example, in satellite broadcasttelevision systems. Former, as will be discussed below themulti-directional controller 24 may also be a trackball which mayprovide mouse type control. As will be discussed below, such house typecontrollers may require careful consideration in for depth requirementsto not impact on the space available on the inside portion of thecontroller for the keyboard controls. Alternatively, multi-directionalcontroller 24 may be any of variety of other well-known controller typessuch as a force sensitive controller or for a glide pad controller ofthe type commonly employed in notebook computers. Depending on the depthgarments of such controllers be limitations introduced by the internalset of remote controls may or may not limit the suitability of suchcontrollers. The first set of controls 12 activate a first wirelesstransmitter 30 which may preferably be an LED or RF transmitterconfigured at one end of the housing 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1B and 1C, first and second side views of the remotecontrol are illustrated. In these respective side views the division ofthe housing into two sections 1 and 2 which may be opened and closed ina folding manner about hinges 32 and 34 is clearly shown. The first sideof the bottom section 2, corresponding to the front of the keyboard whenthe housing is an opened configuration, includes a second wirelesstransmitter 36 which also is preferably a wireless RF or LEDtransmitter. Bottom section 2 also includes a catch release 38 whichreleases the top section 1 to be opened and also deactivates the firstwireless transmitter 30 and activates the second wireless transmitter36. The bottom section 2 also accommodates batteries indicated by dashedlines 40 which may, for example, be two or more AA type batteries. Theshape of the bottom section 2 is illustrated having a varying thicknessT with thickened end portions 42,44 and a thinner middle portion 46having a length S sufficient to accommodate the width of a users hand.For example, S may be about four inches with the overall thickness ofthe housing 10 in this region being about 1.5 inches or less to allowthe comfortable holding of the housing in the closed position in onehand of the user in this region. The configuration of the bottom section2 illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C not only provides additional space inthe end portions 42,44 for the batteries, but also provides a curvedlower surface which may comfortably sit on one leg of a user or on onearm of a sofa or chair of a type typically found in a living room. Thisis shown generally in FIG. 2B with the housing shown in an openedconfiguration positioned on the leg of a user or arm of sofa, shown bygeneral outline 50.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the layout of the keyboard remote controller onthe inside surfaces of the first section 1 and second section 2 is shownwith the housing in an opened configuration exposing a second set ofremote control inputs 48. As shown, the housing in an openedconfiguration provides a width 2W which can accommodate the main keys ofa full function keyboard in a relatively uncrowded layout. Morespecifically, the layout includes a conventional QWERTY set of keys 56split on the two sections 1,2 of the two-piece housing. Also a full setof 10 numeric keys 50 are provided along with 12 function keys 52 andconventional standardized directional keys 54. Also, a multi-directionalcontroller 60 is provided to provide mouse control functions andassociated left and right mouse type select buttons 62, 64 are alsoprovided as shown. Multi-directional controller 60 may be a trackball,glide pad, force sensitive controller or other multi-directionalcontroller design known in the art. Each type of multi-directionalcontroller may involve different considerations for the spaceconstraints of the remote controller. A trackball type controlleroccupies less surface area than a glide pad controller but requiresadditional depth. Therefore, the different types of controllers may becharacterized as three-dimensional in nature, for example, trackball andtypical force sensitive controllers, and two-dimensional such as glidepads. The present invention allows three-dimensional multi-directionalcontrollers to be employed by configuring them over the thickenedportions 42, or 44, of the bottom section 2 of the remote controller. Asdiscussed below, in hand alternate embodiment two-dimensionalcontrollers may also be accommodated without sacrificing area of theinside surface devoted to the alphanumeric keyboard layout.

Referring to FIG. 3, a block schematic diagram is illustrated showingthe circuitry of the remote controller and a switch for the selectiveactivation of the first and second transmitters depending upon theclosed or opened state of the housing. As shown, the first transmitter30 is connected to a first set of remote control circuitry 100 and thesecond transmitter 36 is connected to a second set of remote controlcircuitry 102 which circuitry is respectively activated by thecorresponding outer and inner sets of remote controls. The CPU 104controls both sets of circuitry and selectively activates one or theother of the first and second transmitters in response to switch 106which is activated by button 38. As noted above button 38 releases thehousing to be opened. Switch 106 is reset when the housing is closed.Alternatively, the switch 106 may be activated automatically by theaction of the hinges 32, 34 which incorporate a mechanical switchtherein which is activated as the housing is open and closed.

Referring to FIG. 4, a cross section through the first section 1 of thehousing is illustrated in an embodiment employing a compact double sidedprinted circuit board 110. As shown, printed circuit board 110 includesthe first set of remote controls 12 mounted on one side of the printedcircuit board and the second set of remote controls 48 configured on theother side of the circuit board. Also, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of themulti-directional controller comprising a shared trackball 112. Thisshared multi-directional controller allows a relatively large trackballto be employed as part of the first set of remote controls 12. In thisembodiment, it will be appreciated that the portion of the circuitrywhich is shared for shared use of the trackball 112 will not be disabledby the switch 106 shown in FIG. 3. Also, it will be appreciated thatother multi-directional controllers may also be shared in whole or inpart between the first and second set of controls. For example a glidepad having two active surfaces could advantageously be shared. Theprinted circuit board 110 also includes an attached flex circuit 111(partially shown) which is routed through the hinge of the housing andis attached to the printed circuit board 113 in the second section 2 ofthe housing. The printed circuit board in the second section 2 of thehousing may in a preferred embodiment include a microprocessor chipcorresponding to CPU 104 which is shared between the first and secondremote control circuitry.

Referring to figures 5A and 5B, an alternate embodiment of the remotecontroller is illustrated. In the alternate embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5 a glide pad is employed as the multi-directional controller inthe first set of remote controls 12 and in the second set of remotecontrols 48. This allows a portion of the glide pad circuitry to beshared as discussed above but has the disadvantage of using considerablesurface area. It will of course be appreciated that a glide pad may beemployed for multi-directional controller 24 or 60 in combination withanother type of multi-directional controller in the other set of remotecontrols and the circuitry need not be shared.

Referring to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C an alternate embodiment of the remotecontroller is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, a pulloutmulti-directional controller 120 is employed. The multi-directionalcontroller 120 is configured on a sliding tray 122 which when not in useis recessed in a matching size recess 124 which is preferably configuredin base section 2 of the two-piece housing in one of the enlargedsections 42, 44. The sliding tray 122 is thus positioned in place of oneof the battery storage compartments described above in the previouslyillustrated embodiment. As shown in the top view of the remotecontroller in the open position in FIG. 6B multi-directional controller120 may comprise a glide pad 126 and first and second selection buttons128,130. It will of course be appreciated that other types ofcontrollers may be employed in place of glide pad 126, for example, aforce sensitive controller or trackball may also be employed. It will beappreciated that this allows the full-length of the remote controller tobe exploited for the keys of the keyboard. In another alternateembodiment, not shown, the multi-directional controller, for example atrackball, may be configured in the side of the thickened portion of thehousing 42 adapted to be conveniently operated by one hand of the userwhen holding the remote controller in the open position and operating asa keyboard.

In yet another alternate embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the foldinghousing may be adapted to fold along the width direction along hinge 150as opposed to the length direction as in the previously describedembodiment. The top set of remote control inputs 12 and first wirelesstransmitter 30 may be provided in the same general orientation asdescribed previously, and are therefore not shown in FIG. 7, but thesecond inner set of remote control inputs will now be provided in anexpanded configuration over the inner surfaces having a length 2L. Thesecond wireless transmitter 36 is configured on one of the two sectionsfacing perpendicular to the length direction, as shown. Although thislayout will not readily correspond to a conventional keyboard layout,since the function keys 52 normally provided on the top of aconventional keyboard are configured on the side as shown whereas thealphanumeric keys are split in a side-by-side manner on the two sections1,2, it will allow additional freedom for the hands of the user tooperate the keyboard in a side-by-side manner and may also sit morecomfortably across both legs of the user. Therefore, this alternatefolding approach to the housing may be preferred for some situations.

Referring to FIG. 8 an improved entertainment system in accordance withthe present invention is illustrated. As shown, the entertainment systemincludes a TV monitor 222 which is coupled to a data processing device218 of the type which receives text input control signals, such as a PCor internet access device. Also, additional devices or inputs may beprovided to the entertainment system, e.g., a VCR 272, and other videoand data inputs indicated generally by inputs 216 and 265 in FIG. 8.Also, shown is remote 10, illustrated in both the first (open) andsecond (closed) configurations as described above. Remote 10 providestypical TV type control signals to the entertainment system in thesecond (closed) position, such as volume up/down and power, and textinput control signals in the first (open) position.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foregoing ismerely an illustration of the present invention in currently preferredimplementations. A wide variety modifications to the illustratedembodiments are possible while remaining within the scope of the presentconvention. Therefore, the above description should not be viewed aslimiting but merely exemplary in nature.

What is claimed is:
 1. A remote controller comprising:a housing having alength direction and a width direction, the housing having a firstsection and a second section connected together so as to be foldablebetween a first open position and a second closed position, each sectionhaving an inner surface and an outer surface; a first plurality ofcontrol inputs configured on the outer surface of the first section ofthe housing; a second plurality of control inputs configured on theinner surfaces of the first and second sections; wherein in the closedposition of the housing only the first control inputs are accessible bythe user of the remote controller and in the open position of thehousing the second control inputs are accessible by the user of theremote controller; a first wireless transmitter activated by the firstplurality of control inputs and oriented to transmit control signals ina first direction generally along the length direction of the housing;and a second wireless transmitter activated by the second control inputsand oriented to transmit control signals in a second direction generallyalong the width direction of the housing.
 2. A remote controller as setout in claim 1, wherein the first and second sections of the housing areconnected together by a hinge and wherein a flex circuit is configuredwithin the hinge and passes between the first section and secondsection.
 3. A remote controller as set out in claim 1, wherein the firsttransmitter is located at one end of the housing and wherein the secondtransmitter is located at the middle portion of the housingapproximately half way between the two ends of the housing.
 4. A remotecontroller as set out in claim 3, wherein the first transmitter islocated in the first section of the housing and the second transmitteris located in the second section of the housing.
 5. A remote controlleras set out claim 1, wherein the second plurality of control inputscomprise an alphanumeric keyboard split across the two sections of thehousing.
 6. A remote controller as set out in claim 1, wherein thesecond section of the housing has a thickness which is greater towardthe ends of the housing and thinner at a middle portion to allow theremote controller to be conveniently grasped in one hand of a user withthe housing is in the closed position.
 7. A remote controller as set outclaim 6, wherein at least one of the thicker and portions of the secondsection of the housing includes a receptacle for receiving one or morebatteries.
 8. A remote controller as the set out in claim 1, furthercomprising means for disabling the first transmitter when the housing ischanged from a closed to open position.
 9. A remote controller as setout in claim 1, wherein the housing has a length of from 6 to 10 inchesand a width of from 1.5 to 3 inches.
 10. A remote controller as set outin claim 1, further comprising at least one multi-directional controllerlocated on the inner surface.
 11. A remote controller as set out inclaim 10, wherein the first plurality of control inputs includes amulti-directional controller.
 12. A remote controller as set out inclaim 11, wherein the multi-directional controllers are configured ondifferent sections of the housing.
 13. A remote controller as set out inclaim 11, wherein the multi-directional controllers comprise first andsecond trackballs.
 14. A remote controller as set out in claim 11,wherein the multi-directional controllers comprise a force sensitivecontroller and a trackball.
 15. A remote controller as set out in claim11, wherein the multi-directional controllers are configured on theouter and inner surface of the first section of the housing and areconfigured on different sides of the same circuit board.
 16. A remotecontroller as set out in claim 11, wherein at least one of themulti-directional controllers comprise a glide pad.
 17. A remotecontroller as set out in claim 15, wherein the two multi-directionalcontrollers share circuitry or structure.
 18. An entertainment system,comprising:a television monitor; a device, associated with thetelevision monitor and employing the television as a display device, thedevice responsive to remote control signals including keyboard textinput commands; and a remote control, the remote control having ahousing with a first section and a second section connected together soas to be foldable between an open position and a closed position, theremote control further having a first set of input keys on the outsidesurface of the housing for inputting commands including at least anon/off command and volume command, and a second set of input keys on theinner surfaces of both sections including keys of the alphabet forinputting text, wherein the first set of keys are configured to beoperated with the housing oriented in a position rotated 90° from theorientation for the second set of keys, and at least one short rangewireless transmitter for transmitting said commands to control saiddevice and said TV monitor.
 19. An entertainment system as set out inclaim 18, wherein the remote control further comprises at least onemulti-directional input device for inputting multi-directional commandsto said device.